Ranunculus testiculatus
 
Curved-Seed Buttercup

Whole Plant, Some Leaves Removed

Nicolle Flats Nature Area, West Parking Lot
20-April-2016

Some leaves were removed from this plant and the remaining ones spread out.

My friends Glen and Maureen Lee found this growing next to the curb in the parking lot.  It is not found in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta, but it is listed as a rare introduced plant in Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Saskatchewan by Vernon L. Harmes.  I suspect it is now fairly common but easily overlooked.  It blooms very early in the year.

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Ranunculus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants NOT woody climbers

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leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [plants with opposite leaves]

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leaves not all basal, stem leaves present; NOT [leaves all basal]

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flowers regular; NOT [flowers irregular]

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sepals NOT spurred

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petals present, mostly yellow; NOT [petals absent, the sepals often colored and petal-like but seldom yellow]

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petals NOT spurred

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carpels 2 or more; NOT [carpel 1]

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ovaries 1-ovuled; NOT [ovaries several-ovuled]

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fruit an achene; NOT [fruit a follicle or berry]

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achenes in globose or cylindrical heads; NOT [achenes in elongate, tapering heads]

 

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Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled or basal]

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leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]

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leaves mostly submerged, small, coarsely to finely dissected; NOT [leaves mostly floating, large, suborbicular or reniform]

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flowers pedicellate; NOT [flowers sessile, axillary]

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flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

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flowers perfect; NOT [flowers monoecious]

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calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]

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petals mostly white or yellow

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stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 10 or fewer]

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carpels separate; NOT [carpels united]